Brown gets GOP nod for Stonington selectman

Stonington - Former Republican First Selectman Bill Brown has been chosen by his party to run for selectman in November.

Brown, 72, served 20 years on the Board of Selectmen, three of them as first selectman. Four years ago he decided not to seek re-election because of his commitment to the $6 million renovation of the Westerly Library where he served as vice president and president of the Board of Trustees.

Now that the project is complete, Brown said he is clear to do something else.

"I always enjoyed being on the Board of Selectmen, going to meetings and talking to people," he said Monday.

Brown was the unanimous choice of the Republican Town Committee at its caucus last week. He is the running mate of Republican Selectwoman Glee McAnanaly, who is challenging Democratic First Selectmen Ed Haberek for his seat.

"We have an outstanding candidate in Glee. She understands the issues and knows the players," he said. "I felt now was a good time to help Glee get elected and myself elected."

Brown's opponent is expected to Democratic Selectman George Crouse, who is expected to be endorsed tonight at his party's caucus. Crouse has said that if elected it will be his last term.

The two selectmen are chosen based on the two highest votegetters among the two candidates and the losing first selectman candidate.

"If Glee and I are elected we'll have some good things to bring forward for the town," said Brown, who added he would pursue state and federal grant money as he successfully did for projects such as Donahue Park and the Robert Granato Senior Center.